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A new era in kickboxing? Artem Vakhitov’s bid to change sports history at GLORY 100
Artem Vakhitov is looking to change the landscape of kickboxing on Saturday night.
The GLORY 100 main event pits the highly talented Vakhitov against the long-reigning heavyweight king Rico Verhoeven. The Dutch athlete has dominated kickboxing for a decade, across multiple tournaments, and a whopping 12 title defences, making him one of the most dominant athletes in sports history. With his name etched among all-time greats, atop pound-for-pound lists, Vakhitov, 34, is looking to upend the entire system.
The Muay Thai-based athlete Vakhitov was once at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings with multiple title defences at light heavyweight, including defeating the UFC two-division champion Alex Pereira.
The 34-year-old striker jumped over to MMA and went unbeaten in the UFC with a brief stint on Dana White’s Contender Series. But he couldn’t shake his lifelong love for kickboxing and is set to return to the ring and fight for the heavyweight crown.
It’s easier said than done. Dozens of heavyweights have tried, and none have been able to crack the Verhoeven code.
“I can defeat anyone. The most important thing is to find the keys. He also has his weaknesses, and we’ve worked on that. It’s all about finding the keys and knowing how to use them,” Vakhitov told DAZN News in an exclusive interview.
“It’s a very big moment for us, a very big fight. This is truly the chance where we need to give all our power, all our focus, and everything we have for this fight.”
Since making his professional debut back in 2009, Vakhitov has been celebrated for his speed and tactical approach to fights. He flusters incredibly talented fighters from the mid-range; he’s able to peel away layers of defence until they look clueless.
Some are even pointing out how a smaller Oleksandr Usyk, with tactical mid-range striking, was able to defeat the giant Tyson Fury; Vakhitov may be able to do the same against the Dutch-born Verhoeven.
The world of kickboxing may go through a monumental shift come Saturday night.
Vakhitov is planning to unseat the heavyweight king of more than a decade and upset the pound-for-pound rankings. He would etch his name among all-time greats and create a new era.
“I want to make my own legacy,” he explained.
The 34-year-old athlete has already carved out an incredible legacy in combat sports, having been a long-reigning champion in the light heavyweight division. A win over Verhoeven may be able to place him among all-time greats and will certainly make him an inspiration for a generation of up-and-coming athletes.
“I’m trying to be an example - that’s the most important thing for me. When young people watch me, I want to be a real example for them. I don’t want to use trash talk or dirty tactics.
“I want to be similar to legends like Fedor Emelianenko, who was a true sportsman - clean, without any dirtiness or trash talk. That’s what I want to show the younger generation.”
